Ed Janiszewski is making a tenth run at the mayor's job in Dollard-des-Ormeaux and this time he's up against two people vying for the job including someone from his own council.
Janiszewski made the announcement outside the city Civic Centre, flanked by three of his councillors and about 30 supporters.
"The majority of my council members asked me to run again because they weren't prepared to run and the person who is running is not acceptable to them so they asked me to run," Janiszewski told reporters.
"If we had a different candidate that I could trust and respect I might retire, but that's not the case."
Janiszewski runs for mayor again: "If we had a different candidate I could trust & respect, I might retire but that's not the case." #CJAD pic.twitter.com/FE9YRP16qF
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) September 18, 2017
Longtime councillor Alex Bottausci tossed hit hat into the ring back in January. He and the majority of council have butted heads over issues such as the Hydro Quebec St. Jean substation project and the prospect of burying power lines.
Community activist Ray Chopra, a resident of DDO for 27 years, is also running for the mayor's job. The political newcomer said it's time for new blood.
"It's not about him, his job is done. We want to move forward without any negativity," said Chopra who wants to attract more international business to the city and modernize the city bureaucracy, such as the way it issues permits.
Mayoralty candidate Ray Chopra is a political newcomer who says he believes it's time for new blood in #DollarddesOrmeaux. #CJAD #WestIsland pic.twitter.com/fQ3CBMPBLi
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) September 18, 2017
Janiszewski, who's been mayor since 1984, said one of his priorities is opening up de Salaberry to the metro and the proposed light rail system and promoting public transit in the meantime to ease traffic flow.
Bottausci, who's been a city councillor for 12 years, has said that he wants to focus on making the city a good place for families to live.
The municipal election is November 5.